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The ELCO school board approved several new textbook purchases during the April 20 meeting, but many of them included votes against the motions, citing concerns of biased content.
The book “Focus on Personal Financial Literacy” for the Personal Financial Literacy course was the only one approved unanimously. Books receiving “no” votes included:
- “Temas: World History: Great Civilizations, 2nd ed.” for seventh-grade social studies. Approved 7-2.
- “World History Interactive” for World History: Eastern and Western Civilizations. Approved 6-3.
- “The American Pageant, 18th ed.” for AP United States History. Approved 6-3.
- “American Politics and Government Today” for AP United States Government and Politics. Approved 6-3.
Board members Ray Ondrusek and Bonnie Kantner voted against all of the listed titles, and Rachel Moyer voted against the last three. After the meeting, Moyer said the textbook purchases would range in cost from $8,000 to $30,000.
Kantner, when asked, said the seventh-grade social studies textbook mentioned climate change, fossil fuels, and renewable energy in the recent history section.
Jean Pierre Santos said he gets frustrated that the board doesn’t have multiple textbook options to choose from, but ultimately, the students need new books. He said some textbooks are more than 10 years old, and they should be provided with updated information, even if he views the publishers as having a left-wing bias.
“It’s our teachers, our administrators, it’s the staff that we put our trust in, and knowing that the teachers are going to give these children the opportunity to be critical thinkers, and giving them the opportunities to have the freedom to each vocalize their background, their understanding of things,” he said. “I think with some of these biased publishers that we find ourselves having to purchase books from, we feel like we’re trapped, but in reality, we have an amazing staff.”
Ondrusek said he also loves the district’s teachers; however, he doesn’t want to use taxpayer resources on published material that is “contrary to facts” and “contrary to our community values.”
Megan Schaeffer said she and fellow board member Jordan Weaver both had the same textbooks from their time as students in the district, so they’re relying on materials that are “half a generation behind.”
“The people that do the work, that are in the classroom, that know the community just as well as I think that we do, they’re coming with these recommendations, and I think it’s our professional courtesy to understand them and understand that this is what they recommend for our students,” Schaeffer said.
“World History Interactive” and “The American Pageant” both passed 6-3 with no further discussion, and “American Politics and Government Today” restarted the dialogue.
Assistant superintendent Barbara Davis said the AP U.S. Government and Politics class will not be offered in the 2026-27 school year, so this approval would be for the district to purchase textbooks for 2027-28 if they decide to run the class every other year. The teacher already put the work in with the textbook request, she said. The purchase will not affect the 2026-27 budget.
Schaeffer said this textbook included a line calling slavery “America’s greatest birth defect,” which no one who reviewed the book thought was appropriate. However, she said students pay to take the AP test with the possibility of earning college credit, so students should have the materials to properly prepare themselves.
Ondrusek asked what the point would be in teaching students inaccurate information. Other board members said this is an optional and high-level class that can lead to further discussion about topics mentioned in the textbook.
Barb Seifert spoke during the public comment period of the meeting to recommend that the board delay purchasing the books for another year or two so they can be updated with “appropriate historical information” and to help with this year’s budget.
“Purchasing textbooks at this time will cause proliferation of the woke propaganda that’s been incorporated into these textbooks,” Seifert said.
She said examples of bias included testimony of the Capitol Police before Congress regarding the Jan. 6, 2021, breaching of the Capitol, a photo and caption about George Floyd and racism “with key facts omitted,” and information about climate change.
In other business, the school board:
- Approved all personnel items listed in the agenda, including the employment agreement of new superintendent Karen Nell, who was appointed to a five-year term beginning July 1.
- Approved all items listed in the curriculum committee agenda.
- Approved all policies listed in the agenda for a first or second reading.
- Approved all items listed in the finance committee agenda.
- Voted in favor of all general services items, including:
- A proposal from LowV Systems for the purchase and installation of four servers for $32,000. They will be used to replace outdated services and provide improvements to latency. The cost will be covered by the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency Grant, according to the agenda.
- A one-year renewal support contract with Morefield to provide Mitel Phone System support for $14,104. This was a budgeted expense.
- A proposal from George Ely Associates for the purchase and installation of playground equipment at Fort Zeller Elementary School for $164,431. Moyer said the second grade’s playground equipment is rusted and has safety issues, so they’re excited to get new equipment to support student learning through play. The project will be funded by proceeds from the 2025 debt restructuring, and Moyer said the installation should be completed over the summer.
- Heard a compilation of “The Little Mermaid” from the cast of the fifth-grade musical.
- Honored the school’s tractor restoration team, which won best in show tractor at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.
The ELCO school board will have its next regular meeting on May 18 at 6 p.m. at 180 Elco Drive, Myerstown. People can register to watch meetings over Zoom through the district website.
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